Hub cap remover

[CrabGuy]

I have an old trimmed down brake adjuster tool and probably spend more time looking for it than using it.

 

[superj]

how do you mar the wheel taking the cap off with the lug wrench? i just put the tip in the slot and twist the lug wrench clockwise or counter clockwise and the cap pops off. no gouging or marring that way

 

[James Morse]

Well that sure generated a lot of response. At one point I'd asked about how to get the caps off ('97) without mucking up the wheel and was told about this rubber cap that prevents it. Any appropriate tool would work, it's just that the tip fits correctly. Yeah it's not highly durable, I wrapped some blue tape around it... not that it matters much. The main thing is I just didn't want some tire guy going in there with metal on metal because so far the alloys are in pretty good shape so I was going to just take the wheels to the tire place to swap on new tires thus avoiding that plus avoiding overtight lugs plus avoiding them touching anything else. At some point I suppose it may have to go to a shop for work but so far no. I might get alignment checked at some point, but the tires on there now are pretty worn and the wear is very even on them so I don't suspect any alignment issue, plus it drives/brakes straight so alignment is probably good.
There's actually room for storage, at least on the driver side, behind/under the jump seat. I think right now I'm keeping a 12V inflator and a 12V searchlight in there.
I suppose sometime I might want to make sure the spare comes down ok. It looks way simpler on the '97, no key or weird process to turn things and a key.... looks like just the one bolt, I think. I guess they never had a flat, or, had someone else do it, but the spare looks unused. Wrong size, of course - 235/70R15.... that's oem even if you had 265's.

 

[Curious Hound]

Well that sure generated a lot of response. At one point I'd asked about how to get the caps off ('97) without mucking up the wheel and was told about this rubber cap that prevents it. Any appropriate tool would work, it's just that the tip fits correctly. Yeah it's not highly durable, I wrapped some blue tape around it... not that it matters much. The main thing is I just didn't want some tire guy going in there with metal on metal because so far the alloys are in pretty good shape so I was going to just take the wheels to the tire place to swap on new tires thus avoiding that plus avoiding overtight lugs plus avoiding them touching anything else. At some point I suppose it may have to go to a shop for work but so far no. I might get alignment checked at some point, but the tires on there now are pretty worn and the wear is very even on them so I don't suspect any alignment issue, plus it drives/brakes straight so alignment is probably good.
There's actually room for storage, at least on the driver side, behind/under the jump seat. I think right now I'm keeping a 12V inflator and a 12V searchlight in there.
I suppose sometime I might want to make sure the spare comes down ok. It looks way simpler on the '97, no key or weird process to turn things and a key.... looks like just the one bolt, I think. I guess they never had a flat, or, had someone else do it, but the spare looks unused. Wrong size, of course - 235/70R15.... that's oem even if you had 265's.

It would be good to inspect your spare if it's that old and unused. At least make sure it has good pressure. But tires age and go bad, even without direct sunlight on them.

 

[RobbieD]

I suppose sometime I might want to make sure the spare comes down ok. It looks way simpler on the '97, no key or weird process to turn things and a key.... looks like just the one bolt,

Back when I couldn't afford to keep good tires on all of the time, I had some memorable fiascos from simple flat tires. Even though the rubber is better on the rolling stock these days, now I do preventative maintenance on the spares, jacks and tools. Peace of mind, and no fiascos if they're needed.

At least once per year I'll drop the spare, check condition and inflation, and give it a wash before re-stowing it on each truck I have. Put tire dressing on the sidewalls if I think it's needed.

The Ranger: shoot some white lithium on the rack pivots and put some anti-seize on the bolt threads (rack hanger bolt and tire retainer bolt).
The Explorers: crank the tire hoist all the way down, check, clean and wipe the cable with oil; shoot white lithium into the hoisting mechanism.

On all, pull the stock bottle jacks out, run them up and down, clean and oil; reinstall to the factory hold-downs.

Make sure the lug wrenches and jack handles are present, securely stowed and ready to use. I also keep a 4-way in my trucks.

I also install the spare tires so that the valve stem is closest to the bumper, to make it easier to check the pressure occasionally.

 

[James Morse]

Yeah, I checked pressure in it one of first things when I got the truck. I believe it's the original spare so, yeah, might be age-deteriorated. Will check it, thanks.

 

[Josh B]

Yes. The cap that covers the hub or center axle flange. A hubcap lol.

I hardly ever think of those any more, but those kind were on my 73 Econoline 1 ton.
There's this kind on my Ranger spare rim

 

[97RangerXLT]

What caps are yall talking about?

What?! Do just drive around with your nuts showing?!!

 

[James Morse]

That is truly bizarre, that's the old Ford logo, reminds me of childhood my dad had a bunch of Fords.
One, I think it was a '68 Custom 500 w/ 289, brand new, used a ton of oil. Found out oil drain holes were never drilled in the block/head/whatever. My dad took it to dealer, I was a little kid, I just remember my dad shut the door to the glass office and I could hear some swear words and arguing. They were like, we'll take it apart and drill the holes and my dad was like, no, you're putting in a new engine. That car was fated; I got broadsided by a Delta 88 in a snowstorm and it was totalled. My fault, was doing donuts in it then when I backed out of a driveway in a snowstorm it stalled on me. Hey, I was 16, what can I say. No injuries, but you could see the exact imprint of the Delta in its side. My parents were out at a party, I, probably stupidly, had the car towed to our driveway. They came home laughing and happy... saw the car... no more laughing.

 

[Curious Hound]

What?! Do just drive around with your nuts showing?!!

Absolutely!!!

 

[Blmpkn]

What I've learned today:


If you ever see a man's nuts in SC, it's just Eric.


This is good Intel, I like to know about roughly what I can expect with a visit to a new state.

 

[sgtsandman]

I use something like this at home. My factory wrench still has the rubber tip for road side emergencies.

 

[superj]

thats what i thought this thread was about when i originally read the title /\